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The article record may be found at https://www.hsaj.org/articles/17520 Sponsored the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA, CHDS is part of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).

In January 2003, CHDS began offering the Master of Arts in Security Studies to a class of 14 students. Since that time, more than 460 of the nation’s most talented homeland security officials have participated in the master’s degree program*. These alumni, in turn, share the concepts learned during their course of study with their home agencies, their colleagues and the emerging discipline of homeland security.

A presentation to "Social Networking for Emergency Management and Public Safety", for the U.S. Deparrtment of Energy, August 2010 U.S. Deparrtment of Energy Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830

A presentation to "Social Networking for Emergency Management and Public Safety", for the U.S. Deparrtment of Energy, August 2010

This article appeared in Homeland Security Affairs (October 2006), v.2 no.3 Whether one attempts to define 'homeland security' as a discipline, activity, programmatic approach, or a national security objective, the necessity for learning what it entails is a new endeavor. Particularly challenging is the scope of the task when added to the 'normal' responsibilities borne by senior state and local officials. Not only must they address the tactical and operational components of what we are calling homeland security, but they must master the more complex policy, strategy, and organizational design issues as well. The Department of Homeland Security and the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security has developed and delivered one method for helping senior state and local officials explore, debate, discuss and sometimes resolve the difficult issues of this new effort we call homeland security. This article describes the need for such a program, the approach utilized and provides an early report of some of the lessons learned thus far. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The discipline of emergency management has been evolving in scope and priority at an accelerating rate over the past decade. But the educational opportunities and focus areas have not necessarily kept pace with this change. While the volume of higher education curriculum has increased, three key thematic areas must be addressed as the baseline of knowledge for emergency management professionals: 1) hazard and threat science, 2) sociological and psychological considerations, and 3) prevention/mitigation principles.

How do we know if prevention is working? Not only is the measurement of prevention activities possible, the methodologies of “how” to measure already exist in numerous processes. Additionally, the definitions of “what” to measure have been both experienced and discussed. This article argues that measuring prevention can be accomplished by examining and evaluating the pieces that make up the whole and demonstrates that not only is prevention measurable, that measurement is well within our reach. Measuring effectiveness is not always done at the level of final outcomes. Often, the processes and systems (or outputs) that lead to preferred outcomes are measured when ultimate outcome measurement is impossible. To increase our understanding of how to combat terrorism, we need to put the argument of immeasurable prevention behind us and accept that prevention can be quantified, at least by evaluating the parts of the whole.

CHDS State/Local State governments have been recognized as the fusion point for a significant portion of policy, operational, and implementation activities for homeland security. Additionally, the most critical decisions for allocating resources and prioritizing efforts have been delegated to states. The federal government has required this role of states and has asked them to organize task forces to deal with these challenges but has provided little guidance about how states might establish, administer, and ensure effectiveness of these structures. States have begun to establish decision-making bodies independently, inconsistently, and with few measurements to evaluate effectiveness. This thesis provides a roadmap to success for individual state organizational approaches for Homeland Security. The recommendations are based upon an analysis of directives, expectations, national strategies, existing approaches and a case study of one state's efforts. The call for organizing for the war on terror is acknowledged, accepted, and for the most part, vigorously answered. But how the nation's states organize and to what ends their resources are applied will determine national and even international victory in this war. This project provides a model charter, recommended outcomes and outputs for a state structure, and several policy considerations for the State of Washington's Homeland Security infrastructure. http://archive.org/details/recommendationsf109451488 Director, Washington State Emergency Management Division, Washington Military Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

In recent years, the United States has exhibited sustained socio-political violence and extremism. This thesis investigates whether the United States is experiencing a pre-insurgency state in the insurgency life cycle. A comparative analysis, utilizing domestic insurgency markers provided by the Central Intelligence Agency’s Guide to the Analysis of Insurgency, examines historical domestic insurgencies in Colombia, Northern Ireland, and North Carolina against the current socio-political environment in the United States. This analysis suggests that the United States is exhibiting characteristics of an open domestic insurgency, as demonstrated in the case studies. This thesis recommends enacting necessary political reforms and instating a national year of service, administered by the U.S. military and modeled after the Israeli Defense Forces. Civilian, Spartanburg County Emergency Services Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The Los Angeles Area Urban Area Security Initiative (LAA UASI) is a federal grant program that takes a regional approach to grant projects that improve safety and security in Los Angeles. The research conducted for this thesis aimed to contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance the LAA UASI’s safety, provide a framework for collaborative networks, and create a positive environment with real-time information for managing large-scale incidents, including natural and human-made disasters. The research found that the LAA UASI has significantly enhanced the Los Angeles community’s preparedness and response capabilities and identified some areas for improvement. After analyzing best practices from many sectors, including private industry, public safety, the energy sector, not-for-profit governance, and corporate business, this thesis offers several recommendations for future implementation of the program to enhance overall collaboration and cooperation—the bridge to building strong networks of partners and keeping American cities safe. Overall, this thesis lends valuable insights and recommendations for decision-makers working to improve the safety and security of the Los Angeles community. Civilian, Los Angeles City Fire Department Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Emergency management agencies nationally are increasingly involved in the management of wicked problems in their communities. This thesis explores how the government can use emergency management agencies in response to wicked problems. To answer this question, this thesis takes a multi-step approach that compares the collaborative approach to wicked problem–solving and the ways in which emergency management fosters collaboration for disaster response. The comparison shows that emergency management’s tools can support collaborative responses to wicked problems, but capacity problems in the field of emergency management hinder involvement. This thesis’s conclusion recognizes that concerns about emergency management’s existing workload, underfunded and limited budgets, and the potential negative impacts of a new mission balanced with existing missions are valid. Ultimately, this thesis recognizes four possible outcomes for decision-makers. If emergency management is assigned the wicked problem space without additional resources, both mission areas will falter. If properly resourced, emergency management can adequately address wicked problems and their current workload. The third outcome leaves emergency management outside of the wicked problem mission, while the fourth outcome is to take what works from emergency management and apply it across the government. Ultimately, each outcome alters emergency management’s ability to respond to major disasters. Civilian, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Every year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocates billions of dollars to preserving the safety of the United States. The traditional view of homeland security suggests that fighting terrorism is the key to success, but what does DHS do to carry out its other mission areas and impact the human security of this country? How does DHS leverage these billions of dollars to impact the economic prosperity and resilience of communities? This thesis sought to determine to what extent grants administered by DHS had a socioeconomic impact on communities. It also examined whether socioeconomic vulnerability should be factored into DHS’s grant funding distribution decisions. Using a geospatial analysis of publicly available grant data and the American Community Survey, this research found that between 2011 and 2020, there were no substantial impacts on the socioeconomic demographics in areas where DHS grant-funded activities were performed. The data analysis found that, overwhelmingly, DHS obligates its non-disaster grant funds to a very small number of zip codes throughout the homeland and that most communities do not see consistent investments in their areas. Executive Order (EO) 13985 answers the question of whether DHS should consider using its grants to advance equity and access to its programs, and this research presents areas in which DHS could further the goals of this EO by implementing the use of socioeconomic indicators in the allocation of some of its programs. Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Year after year, police agencies across the nation continue to see a drop in the number of applicants applying to work in the police profession. Recruitment practices that once worked are no longer attracting applicants to the profession charged with providing security to members of their communities. This research examines the police recruitment process regarding applicant attraction and generational motivation and how recruiters can update police recruitment models. This thesis synthesizes the predictors of applicant attraction and motivation factors, called recruitment predictors, as the foundation of any police recruitment practices. The research also indicates there are no recruitment process models available that provide police organizations with guidance on influence, evaluation, and correction during the recruitment process. This thesis provides this guidance by building a conceptual systems theory framework for the recruitment process. This framework synthesizes recruitment process research into an all-encompassing process model. With these factors changing over time, this framework, the recruitment predictors, and practices utilizing recruitment predictors can be reviewed, analyzed, and corrected by police organizations to allow the best opportunity to attract and maintain applicants throughout the recruitment process. Civilian, Amarillo Police Department Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

According to FEMA and NOAA, flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster in the United States. The National Flood Insurance Program, designed to alleviate some of the costs of this hazard, is financially insolvent and fiscally unsustainable. Through its Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, FEMA buys out homes, but the process is voluntary and slow, and demand far exceeds funds available. Consequently, the number of Repetitive Loss and Severe Repetitive Loss properties increases each year. The thesis explores why and how FEMA should pursue strategic retreat from high-risk areas. Disaster costs continue to rise as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity. Sea-level rise endangers coastal regions, and more homes may be susceptible to systemic and regular flooding than official estimates show. To resist by building ever larger flood walls and barriers may be unrealistic, and retreat as an adaptation technique may be preferable. Expensive as strategic retreat may be, loss-avoidance studies indicate that besides reducing pain and suffering, these measures pay for themselves. Strategic retreat may also result in climate refugees who are not prepared to deal with rapidly changing conditions. An adaptation framework recommends deterrents and incentives available to policymakers and practitioners to pursue strategic retreat in a planned, comprehensive, and equitable manner. Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

All communities need to know what to do during an emergency. Developed with the help of federal grant dollars, emergency management programs have advanced public safety capabilities throughout the country, across federal, state, and local boundaries. However, the disparity in state-level funding contributions is concerning given the critical role of emergency management in helping communities during emergencies and disasters. How should emergency management be funded at the state level? This thesis examines the fiscal relationship between federal, state, and local governments to help advance the discussion about how emergency management should be funded at the state level. After analyzing the research materials and supporting documentation, the review presents alternative perspectives from each level of government to demonstrate the potential outcomes and conflicting trade-offs. An assessment of the research led to suggestions on how to balance the alternative perspectives, which appear to compete in some respects but also share some common ground. The final evaluation includes recommendations for states determined to be potentially vulnerable based on the results of the data analysis, which show that some states invest much more than their federal funding allocation while others spend considerably less, thus relying heavily on federal funds. It concludes with a summary of the purpose for this research and its importance in the emergency management enterprise. Civilian, Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau, Fiscal Analysis Division Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Spontaneous volunteers who conduct search and rescue (SAR) in the aftermath of major disasters are changing the emergency management landscape. This thesis explores ways in which the United States Coast Guard (USCG) could better engage organized spontaneous volunteers (OSV) who conduct maritime SAR during hurricane response operations. The research involves three exploratory case studies. In each case study, the organizational response of both the USCG and OSVs was examined according to the Disaster Research Center’s four-fold typology of organized responses to disasters. The analysis identified specific factors of the USCG’s organizational response that affected OSV engagement. Recommendations are made for the USCG to take on new or non-regular SAR tasks and to develop new organizational structures to respond effectively to maritime disasters. New organizational structures should also include OSV groups if the USCG desires to increase engagement during future hurricane response operations. Lieutenant, United States Coast Guard Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The relatively recent theory of community disaster resilience (CDR) would benefit from an exploration of the established theories that form its basis. This study proposes that the approach embodied by social identity theory (SIT) from social psychology aligns with the tenets of CDR. Validating CDR through SIT supports further research in the former theory as well as informs its practical applications. This thesis presents an extensive review of academic research in both theories and qualitative analysis, highlighting connections between the two fields and providing context for future CDR researchers. Finally, this thesis offers ways to make CDR-measuring tools more effective and adaptable, so they can be used to improve a community’s CDR before a disaster and customized to meet the needs of specific communities. Civilian, Los Angeles Unified School District Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

This thesis is a single-case study of Teach for America's model for recruitment and selection of young adults. The civil service has struggled with recruitment, which is becoming increasingly urgent as its workforce ages. Human capital challenges are at the center of mission failures in government. National service is an indicator of civic engagement, which is necessary for the functioning of democracy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency remarked on its goal to "cultivate the next generation of emergency managers" in its 2016 Human Capital Strategic Plan, and yet its challenges with recruitment persist. On the other hand, Teach for America is a shining example of recruitment to national service while the government is struggling. The civil service has yet to address long-standing challenges with its organization, particularly its human capital systems that control recruitment, hiring, selection, and performance management. These challenges undermine public trust in government and also have a direct impact on recruitment. To examine the civil service's recruitment shortfalls, this study examined Teach for America's model. This study provides recommendations and a summary of findings that may inform government leaders who wish to recruit and hire young adults. Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

NPS Contributors and Reviewers: Miriam Bergue Alves, Faculty Associate-Research, Graduate Education Advancement Center; Scott Bischoff, Chief Information Officer; Shannon Brown, Senior Lecturer, Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Phil Candreva, Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Defense Management Adrian Gera, Scheduling Specialist; Ralucca Gera, Professor, Mathematics and former Associate Provost for Graduate Education Ron Giachetti, Chair and Professor, Systems Engineering; Sandra Leavitt, Director, Graduate Writing Center and Thesis Processing Office; Gretta Marlatt, Outreach and Academic Support Manager, Dudley Knox Library; Greg Miller, Senior Lecturer, Systems Engineering; Laurel Minik, Director, Institutional Research, Reporting and Analysis; Ali Rodgers, Director, Faculty Development; Mary Simms, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs; Harry Thomas, Lead, Educational Technologies; Glen Woodbury, Director, Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Larry Shattuck, Senior Lecturer, Operations Research; Brian Stettenbenz, Faculty Associate, IRRA. 17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under review. This paper summarizes history, provides background information, discusses the current state, and proposes a way ahead for distance learning (DL) programs offered by NPS. U.S. Government affiliation is unstated in article text.

This thesis is a single-case study of Puerto Rico’s experience with Hurricane Maria and its catastrophic impacts. As the nation faces more complex and frequent catastrophic disasters, practitioners must consider how to build resilience in a meaningful way by beginning with the community. America’s approach to disaster preparedness and response outlined in the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) and the National Response Framework (NRF) has respectively produced “whole community” concepts and a tiered response approach to disasters. However, the NPG has yet to realize the concept of “whole community” fully by effectively integrating community-based actors and other non-governmental entities into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery cycles. The NRF also does not outline contingencies for the collapse of the framework in catastrophic disasters when mutual aid, state, and federal resources become unavailable or insufficient for lengthy periods of time, leaving communities isolated. To examine these issues, Puerto Rico’s disaster impacts are examined via the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s community lifelines as a categorical method of organization. By synthesizing a large body of literature, this study provides disaster preparedness and response conclusions for all lifelines and identifies overarching themes centered upon a need for holistic disaster preparedness, integration of non-governmental actors, decentralization, and redundant critical infrastructure systems. Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

In 2018, the Colorado Department of Transportation was hit with a ransomware attack that resulted in the first-ever state emergency declaration for a cyber attack. Cyber attacks against the nation and its infrastructure are expected to increase, yet no extensive research exists on the United States' designated response framework for them. This thesis investigated the application of the Incident Command System (ICS) in significant cyber incidents and how the system may be improved for these events. A mixed method study consisting of case studies, senior leader interviews, and a quantitative survey was used to evaluate ICS specific to the framework’s eight core concepts. The research includes findings on variables that impact the effectiveness of response frameworks in cyber events. Recommendations are made to improve cyber response. http://archive.org/details/normalizingcyber1094567133 Civilian, North Dakota Department of Emergency Services Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

Although many alternatives to the standard model of policing have been proposed, none of them meaningfully engages with the massive social and technological changes that have occurred since the mid-20th century. This thesis asks if complexity theory can serve as a theoretical foundation for a new model of policing. Literature on complexity, complex adaptive systems, and network theory is examined and finds that observed behavior of street robberies in Washington, DC, can be understood as a complex adaptive system. This thesis concludes that it is vital to recognize that the United States is transitioning into an informational, network-based society increasingly governed by nonlinear, dynamic processes. It also concludes that the present dissatisfaction with the state of policing is due to its institutional misalignment with those social dynamics. Several recommendations are offered on how to educate and structure police agencies to function effectively in complex environments. Outstanding Thesis Civilian, Metropolitan Police Department Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidance strategy influences local public safety organizations and jurisdictions with emergency response obligations to develop and adopt all-hazards emergency response plans to prepare for critical incidents and natural disasters. Plan developers use assumption-based planning to imagine disaster scenarios and cultivate response options, but there are inherent problems with using such an approach for emergency preparedness. This thesis reviews the literature regarding NIMS strategy for incident response, assumption-based and adaptive planning processes, complexity and decision-making, and response implementation to determine whether a shift in policy could benefit local responders. It also covers four response case after-action reports to determine whether pre-incident plans were beneficial to responders and if jurisdictions had sufficient resources to respond to their incidents. The review illustrates that assumption-based planning is not the best tool for developing new plans but is better suited to review existing procedures or as a training tool for responders. This thesis shows that pre-selected and trained incident management teams provide superior preparedness for response and, when combined with a decision-making framework, are a dynamic, efficient tool. This thesis recommends changing the national strategy to influence local authorities in the development and implementation of coordinated local incident response teams. Civilian, City of Austin, Austin Water Utility Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

How can emergency alerts be modified to more effectively serve people with functional and access needs? This thesis employed a qualitative analysis of three U.S. and two international case studies of disasters, applying the findings to the value proposition framework, which considers the warning requirements of people with disabilities or other access needs as well as what inclusive warning and notifications systems would look like. This framework drove eight recommendations that stakeholders can use to improve such systems. Alert originators and professional associations should enhance inclusive planning and education and implement broader use of diverse warning systems for public safety and the public. They should also leverage assistive technologies and community relationships. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, respectively, should incentivize inclusive warning programs through grant funding and fund technology research for resilient warning infrastructure. Civilian, Delaware County, OH - Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

The emergency management program in Washington State is vulnerable because it has no sustainable and stable funding source. This thesis identifies potential state and local funding and allocation methods that can possibly stabilize and sustain Washington State's emergency management programs. Three case studies are conducted in which the funding source, allocation method, and policy strategy are analyzed for each case. Various funding methods can be applied to emergency management programs in the state of Washington. Allocation methods have the potential to exacerbate disparities in communities with low income, high unemployment, or restricted access to services. Policy strategy analysis identifies themes for a successful implementation. A recommendation is for Washington State to establish an Emergency Management Partnership. The partnership can identify critical emergency management services, examine funding needs, and provide a recommendation for implementing critical emergency management services across the state of Washington. Civilian, Pierce County Department of Emergency Management Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

Following many recent intentional mass casualty incidents (MCIs), bystanders have come to the rescue, helping those around them. These active bystanders, known as immediate responders, have saved lives by providing immediate care for life-threatening injuries, evacuating victims, and transporting the injured to hospitals. However, immediate responders also tend to overwhelm the closest hospital and inaccurately prioritize victims for treatment. Emergency responders must manage this emergent response to leverage the benefits of the extra help but to avoid unintended consequences. A literature review and analysis of recent MCIs reveals that existing planning assumptions do not account for bystander help; this thesis recommends a new paradigm for MCI management that takes into account the complexity of MCIs, including immediate responder emergence, and includes suggestions for training incident commanders to operate in these novel and complex environments. The thesis also provides recommendations for encouraging bystanders to become immediate responders by creating a helping culture, which can include providing community training and bolstering laws to protect Good Samaritans. Civilian, Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

Although the United States has a well-defined incident management doctrine, it fails to fully integrate private sector response capabilities into national and local incident management efforts. The lessons learned from the 2017 Hurricane and Wildfire Season underscored the need to improve coordination with the private sector to better assist communities in responding to and recovering from emergencies. This thesis examines how the implementation of statewide access programs can better integrate private sector response capabilities into state and local disaster management efforts. Furthermore, it explores the purpose of an access program, the importance of access management during emergencies, and common post-disaster access-related challenges. Comparative analysis was used to examine U.S. incident management policies and practices regarding the concept of access management and the benefits associated with using access programs. Although use of an access program offers many benefits, key findings attribute the lack of widespread adoption to multiple factors, ranging from inconsistent policy guidance to inadequate prioritization of private sector access needs during emergencies. Recommendations include enacting state statutes, expanding the business emergency operations center network, developing interoperable access programs, and using federal grant programs to help government at all levels to more effectively integrate the private sector into incident management efforts. Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

Occupational cancer has become the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths within the United States fire service. This epidemic claims the lives of hundreds of firefighters each year, even though the fire service has developed best practices to prevent occupational cancers. This thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing best practices: fire department culture, firefighters’ ignorance of the disease and prevention methods, complacency caused by cancer’s long latency periods, funding, pathways to compliance with national and departmental policies, groupthink, and motivation. To explain how fire departments can overcome these barriers, this thesis examines the health and safety efforts that two departments have taken and reviews literature from other fire departments, national fire service organizations, subject-matter experts, researchers, and academic studies. This research shows that when fire departments provide their members with the proper tools, training, education, and awareness, they can rise to the occasion and implement best practices to prevent occupation-related cancer. Civilian, Fire Department City of New York Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

This thesis explores the modification of the Department of Defense (DOD) framework and model of net assessment for use by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DOD uses net assessment to forecast strategically, often decades into the future, to determine where a net advantage or disadvantage exists over its adversaries. The information from such an analysis is then used by the DOD to determine where to best focus its resources in meeting these future adversaries. This thesis utilizes the corollary inputs, analysis, and outputs between DOD and DHS strategic models to visualize a notional framework that can be used to conduct these net assessments for DHS beyond the typical strategic plan timescale. For each DOD input and output, a comparable DHS input and output is selected. An example DHS net assessment is conducted to explore the viability of the model. http://archive.org/details/lookingbeyondthe1094564851 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The majority of Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) preparedness grants were created in the wake of 9/11 through the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Act). These grants, as required by the Act, are predicated on addressing terrorism preparedness. The National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) was introduced in 2011 to provide an all-hazards capability-based system to measure the nation’s level of preparedness. The purpose of this thesis is to determine if FEMA’s preparedness grants are allowing the Goal to be achieved and examine if the grant programs can be adjusted to better align with the strategic intent of the Goal. This research examined homeland security capabilities and federal grant programs to determine if a nexus to terrorism has created any limitations. The results of the national preparedness reports from 2014 to 2018 are also examined to determine if the nation is moving in the right direction regarding preparedness. Several preliminary ideas are offered to improve alignment of grant programs with the Goal. A recommendation is also made for FEMA to develop a process to understand better how grant funds are impacting capabilities. http://archive.org/details/aligningthenatio1094564928 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis provides an overview and policy options analysis of offsite radiological emergency preparedness and response protocols for commercial nuclear power plants. This program is developed by the federal government and implemented by state and local government emergency management as the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REPP). The capabilities built under the separate REPP, if integrated within the wider emergency preparedness enterprise, could be properly accounted for and included in a community-wide assessment of its aggregate capabilities within its existing all-hazards program. The research question for this thesis addresses which benefits, shortfalls, and challenges emerge from the integration of the hazard-specific emergency preparedness and response program established under REPP with the all-hazards core capabilities and the National Preparedness System doctrine. The research design utilizes a logic model framework to facilitate the process of evaluating different policy options and approaches to an emergency preparedness and response program for nuclear power plants in the United States. The conclusion of the research is to augment the existing REPP protocol with a robust means to measure capability and performance, which is modeled as a policy proposal to use an oversight framework and measurable site-specific performance indicators tied to probabilistic risk assessment. http://archive.org/details/acaseforstateand1094564183 Civilian, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Recovery is the disaster after the disaster, particularly for long-term recovery (LTR). Classic emergency management (EM) approaches may fail to address LTR because of its “wicked problems,” which evade traditional top-down systems. For wicked problems, scholars recommend mobilization of varied stakeholder networks. One such network exists in LTR through community-led coalitions, an organizing phenomenon coordinating nonprofits, congregations, associations, and other services to streamline diverse, critical services. The model brings together emergent groups, governmental EM, and nongovernmental EM sectors. This study examines how community-led LTR coalitions interpret and tackle LTR’s wicked problems through an in-depth qualitative analysis of Long-Term Recovery Groups after Hurricane Sandy in New York City. The research methodology includes interviews with coalition coordinators and assessments of materials relating to these coalitions. The study demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses in coalition approaches to five wicked problems derived from LTR scholarship. It offers recommendations to LTR practitioners across sectors and explores the significance of these coalitions for EM and democratic participation in recovery. This thesis applies scholarly rigor to approaches taken by coalitions in NYC to make sense of LTR’s wicked problems and collectively tackle them. It is written by and for leaders who serve survivors through the long haul of recovery—the “last responders.” http://archive.org/details/thelastresponder1094564889 Outstanding Thesis Civilian, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The corrections enterprise is wholly unprepared for mass casualty incidents (MCI). Prisons regularly experience incidents involving inmate violence; these events can quickly escalate into an MCI that overwhelms the prison’s ability to respond and overload local medical systems. Despite numerous prison-related disasters, the corrections enterprise remains disengaged from national emergency preparedness efforts. Further complicating the issue is the lack of corrections-specific emergency management doctrine to guide prison emergency planners toward achieving national preparedness goals. This thesis asks, “How can a framework be developed that will improve prison mass-casualty planning and response?” The first part of the research involves a gap analysis comparing the prescribed performance outcomes found in emergency management doctrine and MCI planning guides to the actual performance outcomes from several MCI events. In the second part, a panel of correctional and emergency management experts participated in a modified Delphi process to validate the results of the gap analysis using a discussion-based wargaming exercise. The research found that it is possible to create an accurate depiction of the problem space by reframing gap analysis data in the context of the prison operational environment. The resulting MCI framework recommends a series of corrections-specific planning actions, backed by doctrine, which is scalable and applicable to any prison or correctional facility. http://archive.org/details/buildingthecasef1094563445 Civilian, California Department of Water Resources Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This research answers the following question: How does the United States improve economic recovery to mitigate the impacts a disaster has on a community? The thesis examines existing literature and insight from subject-matter experts to determine how the nation can improve economic recovery after a disaster to mitigate the overall impact on communities. Using the Delphi methodology, subject-matter experts from different levels of government, as well as the business sector, answered questions about the present status of knowledge, capabilities, and capacity of economic recovery. The Delphi information became the basis for a net assessment, which helped to create a shared understanding of U.S. capabilities and how they can counter or mitigate the overall impact of a nebulous and challenging problem. This assessment analyzed economic recovery using three broad categories: the National Disaster Recovery Framework, the operational environment, and governance. The research identified three problems hindering existing capabilities: limited unity of effort, unrealistic objectives, and a lack of emphasis on economic recovery. Addressing these areas would allow the nation to improve its preparedness capability and, more importantly, provide practitioners and stakeholders the tools to support the citizens they serve. http://archive.org/details/buildingcommunit1094563481 Colonel, United States Army National Guard Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

With the increasing prevalence of and dependency on smartphones, it is critical to understand how the sensor data collected from their users is used and shared. This thesis investigates the homeland security risks associated with smartphone-sensor data collection and sharing. Publicly available technical specifications, open-source documents, and published studies were used to evaluate how smartphone data could be used to threaten the security of the homeland. This analysis reveals that smartphone sensor data, especially when aggregated, threatens the security of individuals and organizations at a level that also threatens homeland security. This analysis recommends specific actions that should be taken by individuals, organizations, and the homeland security enterprise to mitigate these threats. http://archive.org/details/themoleinyourpoc1094563479 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

School violence is a consistent problem that cannot be underestimated by government and school officials. Though pervasive and ever-changing, current school safety initiatives are not always effective. This thesis explores how schools can take advantage of a dog’s therapeutic and security instincts to improve existing school safety initiatives. To assess fittingness, the thesis first explores research that indicates there is an evolutionary bond between humankind and dogs, which—when paired with dogs’ general and emotional intelligence—makes them a perfect candidate for the school safety platform. The thesis then presents data to suggest that therapy and police dogs are equally suitable to improve school safety initiatives. Finally, the thesis details a theoretical observational study that demonstrates the practicality and benefits of pairing a therapy dog with a school resource officer. The findings reveal that dogs could be an added layer to improve current school safety initiatives. A dog’s security instincts can bolster school resource officers’ crime-prevention capabilities and also enhance or replace other physical security measures, like metal detectors. Furthermore, a dog’s therapeutic abilities can provide stress relief and can strengthen a school resource officer’s informal counseling skills, which may help the officer develop much-needed rapport with troubled students. http://archive.org/details/bringinthedogsus1094563443 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

In order for commercial nuclear power to remain successful in the United States, several things need to occur: advancement of newer technologies and replacement of aging infrastructure with a new generation of safe reactors that are reliable, adaptable to the environment, cost-effective, and energy efficient to meet the nation’s energy demands into the future. To accomplish this, the United States must be able to identify true risk rather than the perceived risk of civilian nuclear power and have solutions to manage it. Risk management includes reducing the U.S. carbon footprint, which is contributing to global warming. The nation also must find a way to close the loop on nuclear waste through reprocessing and recycling. Furthermore, by reducing their size as compared to existing commercial power plant operations, the United States can locate new plants where energy is most needed. Finally, this thesis demonstrates how the potential consequences of a nuclear plant accident can be reduced to acceptable levels through the use of small modular reactors. http://archive.org/details/reducingthepoten1094562242 Civilian, Allegan County Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Emergency management has developed into a profession with demands and expertise separate from other professional disciplines in government service. Coordination issues before, during, and after a disaster have continually been a challenge for emergency management. Although the organizational placement of local government emergency management agencies varies extensively across the United States, public administration organizational theory provides a foundation for considerations that inform the design of these bureaucratic structures. Structure influences essential emergency management functions such as interagency coordination, resource allocation, program prioritization, decision making, information flow, and collaboration. Organizational design also significantly affects program characteristics, including culture development, professional identity, and employee engagement—all of which have direct relationships with program effectiveness. This thesis supports the notion that jurisdictions need to carefully consider the organizational placement of their emergency management programs to support effective service delivery. Jurisdictions should ensure that programs are structured in a way that promotes program empowerment, limits hierarchical layers, promotes executive sponsorship, enhances collaboration, and develops an emergency management culture. http://archive.org/details/doestheorymatter1094562295 Civilian, City of Sacramento Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The 2015 National Security Strategy warns that natural hazards supercharged by the effects of climate change pose a direct threat to the human and national security of the United States. This thesis asks if the U.S. government is placing the American public at risk by failing to create resilience standards appropriate to the threats posed by natural hazards, including hazards that will be exacerbated by climate change. What is preventing the nation from understanding the risk of climate security threats and the need to adapt to those threats? What lessons can the United States learn from our allies to establish an effective climate change adaptation protocol? These questions are examined through four emergency management considerations: the climate threat, presidential narratives, emergency management laws and relevant policies, and democratic allies’ climate adaptation progress. The research shows that decisive national leadership toward climate adaptation is urgently needed in the United States. The answers to these research questions provide a narrow view of key factors that can be changed to achieve a more resilient nation and increase public safety for the American people. http://archive.org/details/climatesecurityt1094561261 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Institutions of higher education have underdeveloped emergency management programs despite academic research, industry surveys, and guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Education. This research set out to discover what recurring issues are commonly identified in higher education emergency management programs. These issues tended to fall into three broad categories: resources, planning, and engagement. An exploratory case study was then conducted on Oregon’s Campus Resilience Consortium to see how this proposed model could address repetitive issues. The research found that Oregon’s program is poised to strengthen continuity, communication, and collaboration among institutions across the state. Implementation concerns were identified. http://archive.org/details/theoregontrailan1094560397 Civilian Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

What drives resilience for states in the United States? This thesis seeks to answer this question and addresses the absence of quantitative metrics for efforts to increase resilience. We used a literature review to create a framework of indicators, a Delphi review to validate the framework, and statistical techniques to create a composite indicator from the framework. Knowing that all models are false but some are useful, the intent was not to perfectly predict resilience, but simply to create a tool to help practitioners understand which programs most affect resilience. Our results showed that even programs assumed to have a strong link with resilience—such as strong building codes—actually had little relation with increased resilience, as measured by weather-related fatalities and economic losses. Some conclusions are that state-level measurement masks granular differences that are important in understanding weather-related deaths. In most states, for instance, weather-related deaths happen infrequently, yet most federal and state programs aim to increase resilience in catastrophic events, which makes it challenging to validate resilience measurement tools using data on day-to-day deaths. Recommendations include that FEMA should continue to build on improvements to the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and that agencies should determine and consistently measure the dependent variable (i.e., deaths and damage or other measures of well-being). http://archive.org/details/measuringstatere1094560383 Civilian, Department of Homeland Security Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis evaluates emergencies that are likely to occur in metropolitan transportation centers and the challenges emergency managers face when preparing for them. Specifically examining nine co-located transportation agencies in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, the research identifies methods emergency managers can use to enhance preparedness coordination and collaboration across multiple transportation agencies where, despite their different governance structures and base locations, operations overlap. The author examined best practices among existing emergency preparedness documents and offers six recommendations that can enhance cross-agency coordination: 1) adopting an all-hazards approach, 2) defining a common method, 3) involving the “whole community” in preparedness activities, 4) enhancing resource-allocation techniques, 5) establishing a method for continuity of operations in a combined emergency operations center, and 6) hardening existing infrastructure. Going forward, the nine agencies in the study area must establish a year-long pilot program to evaluate emergency preparedness methods, which should include regular table-top exercises and the eventual establishment of a regional transportation emergency operations center (RTEOC). These exercises will also help the agencies establish clear roles and responsibilities, which will provide the public with better protection during emergencies. http://archive.org/details/emergencyprepare1094559570 Civilian Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Information sharing during complex large-scale emergencies continues to challenge New York City (NYC) agencies. Despite both local and national mandates for emergency response after 9/11, information sharing between and within agencies is limited. A conceptual model-based approach is proposed for multi-agency information-sharing challenges during large-scale emergency incidents. A case study of the 2017 Hurricane Maria response in Puerto Rico by NYC agencies within the larger federal response to evaluate the current information-sharing environment highlights the need for more effective information sharing during large events. The case study used the Urban Search and Rescue New York Task Force 1, the New York City Fire Department Incident Management Team, and the NYC Department of Buildings as representative NYC agencies. The case study provided the opportunity to evaluate both the current technology and organizational framework for NYC response agencies and national partner agencies during a real-world event. The case study research confirmed the potential for a conceptual model to specify the information attributes and flow paths of the event, according to an agency’s needs. The research also confirmed the applicability of a model-based approach to include existing legacy systems and data structures to enable inter- and intra-agency information sharing during large events. http://archive.org/details/improvinginforma1094559680 Civilian Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Active shooter attacks occur quickly. Schools have to take immediate action to protect students and staff. Public address systems do not adequately warn everyone at the first sign of danger. This thesis asks to what extent the school fire alarm system can be a model for a lockdown notification system for emergencies involving violence. The research reviews the history, mechanics, and regulations of fire alarm systems, and uses that information to design a conceptual lockdown notification system. A tool to evaluate school warning system technologies was also developed. Six case studies reviewed schools or districts that use a lockdown warning system modeled after the fire alarm system. The thesis concluded the school evaluation tool is useful for identifying strengths and weaknesses of school warning systems. The tool showed that reliability is a strength of the conceptual lockdown notification system because it is aligned with National Fire Protection Association codes. The lockdown notification system has the potential to solve the problem of early warning. The research recommends school decision-makers use this new tool to evaluate and select communication and warning system technologies. It recommends a pilot project to test the implementation of the conceptual lockdown notification system in schools. http://archive.org/details/earlywarningstra1094558303 Safety Coordinator, Lincoln County School District, Newport, Oregon Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Since Columbine, untold resources and planning efforts have been dedicated to active-shooter response by schools and public safety officials. Perhaps this is as it should be, but the almost exclusive focus on response has come at the expense of recovery. Active-shooter events were studied to identify and analyze gaps in recovery planning and operations. Research suggests that a comprehensive K-12 recovery plan with a phased approach would have enabled a faster and smoother recovery. There are no federal requirements for such a plan, and fewer than two-thirds of the states require a crisis plan for schools. The most important elements of active-shooter recovery for K-12 schools were determined: evacuation, relocation, and parent/student reunification; counseling and mental health therapy; funerals and memorials; post-incident staff reduction, suicide awareness, communication with non-English-speaking students and families, and donation management. Based on the lessons learned from six active-shooter incidents, steps are recommended for the successful, immediate, and national implementation of recovery planning for K-12 active-shooter events. http://archive.org/details/whenshootingstop1094556864 Director, Emergency Management, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Drug policy in the United States is reactive and unprepared for burgeoning phenomena related to the convergence of drugs and technology. In the twenty-first century, innovations are disrupting society with unconventional rules. This thesis investigated how emerging technologies and global megatrends might converge to affect the future of United States drug policy. Through a scenarios-based future studies methodology, global megatrends and other nascent variables intertwine in two fictional scenarios to highlight regulatory and ethical challenges. Thesis findings underscore how it is critical for the United States to remain adaptable and identify general long-term, cyclical forces. Subsequently, it is imperative to analyze how these forces might influence the environment of illicit drug use before current regulatory drug frameworks become obsolete. Thesis findings recommend that the U.S. government decriminalize illicit drugs and transition drug policy from the domain of law enforcement to a strengthened public and behavioral healthcare system. Finally, this thesis also recommends the creation of a national biotech ethics committee and an office of the future. http://archive.org/details/newhighfutureori1094556869 Outstanding Thesis Policy Advisor, District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health, Washington, DC Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Fire departments often respond to incidents at crowded events with no prior planning or coordination with other agencies. The result can be decreased safety for patrons at the events. The purpose of this thesis is to understand causes of injuries at crowded, outside venues and what could make these events safer. This thesis asks how fire department personnel can plan for the safety and care of large crowds at outside venues. The research design includes a review of literature on crowd dynamics and example incidents. Using root cause analysis, this thesis analyzes four case studies: 1989 Hillsborough soccer match, 2011 Reno Air Race, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and 2014 Travis Air Force Base Air Show. The success of the Reno Air Race and Boston Marathon rescue personnel in taking care of injured victims can be attributed to careful planning by stakeholders before the events took place. This thesis recommends that before large, crowded events, stakeholders establish relationships and that all stakeholders participate in careful planning and realistic training. This planning and training should include interoperability of communications, roles for volunteer staff, and ways to prevent and decrease overcrowding. Finally, this thesis recommends strategies to educate event patrons on safety. http://archive.org/details/firedepartmentpe1094556930 Battalion Chief, Battalion 9 A Shift, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

State and local first responders in the United States lack a common strategic approach to prepare for complex coordinated attacks (CCAs). Inconsistent terminology and insufficient guidance from all levels of government and academia complicate matters. State and local agencies face three main barriers to CCA response preparedness: First, the United States has not experienced a CCA like those in Mumbai or Paris; this renders the threat low probability, if high consequence, and thus low priority. Second, preparedness funding in the United States is declining across the board; only high-priority, high-probability events receive necessary funding and attention. Third, if a CCA were to occur today without a unified response plan, first responders would attempt to bring order to chaos; but because this type of event is qualitatively different from those for which responders have trained, such a response could prove to be disastrous. This thesis analyzed and assessed federal summary reports from current preparedness programs. It surveyed program participants about the programs' value and use. When combined with the federal report examination, the survey results revealed that even without a national CCA strategy, these programs increase participants' preparedness and resilience, and first responders may be adapting to the current threat environment. Three recommendations are provided to help address the findings and augment state and local first responder preparedness before a CCA occurs. http://archive.org/details/prospectivevigil1094556925 Captain II, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, Virginia Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Since 9/11, the fire service has experienced a shift and an expansion in the nature of threats and hazards that it faces. Despite advances in the field, firefighters are still losing their lives inside of burning buildings, and they must find new ways of identifying training gaps and improving current training practices. This thesis explores whether emergency incidents connected to low frequency and high risk events contain sufficient warning signs or indicators of imminent catastrophic events, if firefighters could identify them, and if there was a potential of changing decision making and averting a tragedy. In order to create a firm basis for this discovery, this research effort included a detailed analysis of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s line of duty death reports from the years 2013–2015. The work provided an opportunity to learn from past events and practices and identify successes and failures in the firefighting domain without the bias of being closely involved with the cases or having a specific agenda. Quantitative analysis performed on this data set and the knowledge gleaned from looking at the events after the fact provide a foundation for advising novel training approaches and scenarios that can be used to train both individuals and teams of fire fighters. http://archive.org/details/searchingforeffe1094556157 Captain, Boston Fire Department Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.